So Milton represents, that when Adam was conversing with the angel, Eve retired: • Yet went she not, as not with such discourse Of what was high such pleasure she reserved, Not words alone pleas'd her. O when meet now Time is often a great barrier to lovers' pleasures. How they long for the happy moment, when the expected meeting is to take place! And how eager to improve the short season they are to be together! How swift the moments fly! and how soon,-too soon! they have to regret that they must part.- And how long the hours seem till they meet again! My fancy hears the fair one cry: Fly swift ye hours, ye measure time in vain, Now, my dear friends, you enjoy the inexpressible pleasure of being together as long as you desire, without any fear on your part, or uneasiness on he part of others. What would some lovers give for only an hour or two together! The recollection of such feelings has a tendency to heighten the pleasures of the marriage state, and to increase our enjoyments. Now, at the appointed hour,-the hour of rest, you need not go.---You are now at home. You will retire together, like the original parents of mankind, and worship God; and express your grati tude to him for blessing you with each other. Both turn'd and under open sky ador'd The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heav'n, Milton has eminently succeeded in describing the pleasures enjoyed in that best of blessings, a virtuous wife. He represents Adam as expressing his feelings on this subject to the angel, in the following remarkable manner : • Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought Which I enjoy, and must confess to find Nor vehement desire, these delicacies I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, * * * * * Yet when I approach Her loveliness, so absolute she seems As one intended first, not after made When the angel warned him against being too much captivated by outward appearances, and external beauties; he replied: Neither her outside form so fair, nor aught So much delights me, as those graceful acts, Those thousand decencies that daily flow From all her words and actions, mix'd with love And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd Union of mind, or in us both one soul; Harmony to behold in wedded pair More grateful than harmonious sound to th' ear." These pleasures, my dear Sir, are ever new; and are constantly enjoyed amidst all the cares and business of life. And as a family comes on the husband discovers. a thousand new endearments in his wife, which it was impossible for him to feel the influence of before. Her affectionate attention to their children, and her discreet and prudent management of all the domestic concerns, give him a peculiar satisfaction, and constantly create for him new pleasures, which fill his bosom with strong emotions of gratitude to God, for blessing him with such a treasure. These are indeed comforts, yea delights • Warm as the mother's kiss When the heart bounds with bliss That you may enjoy these pleasures, still multiplying as the days and years of your life increase; till you partake of the greatest felicity which our mortal state allows, is the earnest prayer of, My dear Sir, Your sincere and affectionate friend.. LETTER VIII. The Pleasures of the Marriage State continued. MY DEAR SIR, Our bountiful Creator has most wonderfully furnished the world, with every thing adapted for the enjoyment of mankind at large. It is manifest that it was not his design, merely to furnish us with necessaries for our subsistence: but with a great variety of delicacies, to administer to our pleasures. As an Apostle has beautifully expressed it: 'He gives us richly all things to enjoy.' The fields, the woods, the groves, the garden, the orchard, the vineyard; what an amazing abundance for the gratification of all our senses! But the greatest of all the pleasures we enjoy, in any thing short of communion with the Creator himself, are the pleasures that flow from the conjugal state. The celebrated author of the Seasons has, I think, beautifully illustrated this. Speaking of married persons dwelling together in a becoming and exemplary manner, he says: |